With a large percentage of Northeast Lauderdale’s offense production missing with the graduation of Harvest Brunson and Ulysses Lebron, the Trojans entered the year searching for consistent replacements.

Four games into the season, Akiva Burton; Jemiah Cole and Keahva Moss have put on noticeable auditions. 

The trio’s combined 39 points helped lead the Trojans to a 55-45 road victory over Southeast Lauderdale Tuesday night in early season basketball action.

Burton’s 18 points were a game-high,  Moss added 11 points and Cole chipped in with 10.

Southeast Lauderdale’s Jalen Smith scored three points in the last two minutes of the first half to whittle the Tigers’ deficit to 27-22 at the intermission, but Burton and Cole spearheaded an explosive third quarter in which Northeast Lauderdale outscored Southeast Lauderdale 18-7 to distance itself from the Tigers.

“I thought we got into our offense a little better that quarter,” Northeast Lauderdale head coach Lewis Lightsey said. “They were switching between man and zone in the first half and kind of mixing us up a little. So once we talked about it at halftime, we were about to get our offense a little better and make some shots.”

Burton opened the third quarter with a field goal with 7:36 left to give the Trojans a 29-22 lead, but Southeast Lauderdale’s Larryon Pugh responded with a field goal of his own 16 seconds later to bring the Tigers within five points as Northeast Lauderdale led 29-24. 

Southeast Lauderdale’s offense stalled after Pugh’s field goal, and the Tigers wouldn’t score again for six minutes to assist a 13-0 Northeast Lauderdale run that pushed the Trojans’ lead to 42-24 with 1:21 left in the third. 

Cole added a pair of 3-pointers to lead Northeast Lauderdale’s shooters in the third.

Pugh snapped the offensive drought with two free throws with 1:09 remaining in the third period.

The Tigers outscored the Trojans 16-10 in the final period but were unable to stabilize from the third quarter.

Tuesday’s game was Southeast Lauderdale’s first of the season, and Tigers head coach Centel Truman said, despite the outcome, it offered a glimpse of positives.

“I think our kids played very hard; unfortunately, the ball didn’t go in,” Truman said. “We have to find ways to get the ball in the basket. But, all lot of that is because of Northeast Lauderdale, as well. They played great defense, and they’ve played great competition so far… It’s something that will help us out in the long run. We have to get some guys back healthy who didn’t get in, and we have to get some pieces to the puzzle.”

Daiquan Scott scored a team-high 10 points for the Tigers.

Up next: Southeast Lauderdale (0-1) travels to West Lauderdale Thursday, and Northeast Lauderdale (3-1) hosts Kemper County.

LADY TROJANS 66, LADY TIGERS 50

Daisha Robinson scored a game-high 19 points to go along with Quinesha Moss’ 17 points, as the duo led Northeast Lauderdale over Southeast Lauderdale Tuesday night. 

After scoring just six points in the first half, Robinson rattled off eight points in the third quarter. Moss went 7 of 9 from the free-throw line.

Shakira Wilson tallied 13 points for Southeast Lauderdale, while Brendaysia Wallace added 12.  

After leading 15-14 at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Trojans extended their lead to 35-29 at halftime. A 19-point third quarter paved the way for the victory. 

The win was Northeast Lauderdale’s first, which also gave first-year girls head coach Lewis Lightsey his first with the squad. 

“We started 0-3, and we played three really hard teams,” Lightsey said. “Last week, we lost a game by 3 and by 2 (points), so we were right there at it. We came out the gate well and did what we wanted to, and Southeast fought hard in the second quarter and got back in the game… Moss hit some big shots, and Daisha Robinson really hit some big shots. We made enough down the stretch to hold on.”

Up next: Southeast Lauderdale (1-2) has a road game at West Lauderdale on Thursday, while Northeast Lauderdale (1-3) hosts Kemper County on Thursday.